NFL Draft: Winners and losers
The NFL Draft wrapped up Saturday and there were a lot of storylines coming out of the event. Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney looks at some teams that won – and a few that lost – the weekend from a recruiting perspective:
WINNERS
Every defensive linemen in the Southeast, if not the country, is going to notice that Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker went in the first round and the Bulldogs’ defensive dominance was only further solidified with safety Malaki Starks going in the opening round as well.
Thirteen Georgia players – the most in the SEC – were drafted over the last few days and coach Kirby Smart and his staff will use that number to load up even more in recruiting. Three offensive linemen were picked by the end of the third round including former five-star Tate Ratledge, a second-round pick who battled injuries during his time in Athens.
Five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell decides next month and Georgia’s haul couldn’t have hurt as the Bulldogs look to be the front-runner now even with him being on an Oregon visit this weekend.
No one from the ACC or Big 12 is writing home about this draft as it was dominated by the SEC and Big Ten but Miami has some things to be proud of – mainly that the No. 1 overall pick, quarterback Cam Ward, played for the Hurricanes this past season.
Getting tight end Elijah Arroyo into the second round was a big win as well as the Hurricanes continue to push their success at that position over the years. Running back Damien Martinez seems like a major steal in the seventh round.
Life is good – really good – for Ohio State. The Buckeyes won the national championship and now put 14 players in the NFL Draft, tied for the second-most ever. Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka went in the first round, only reinforcing that the Buckeyes produce receivers at an incredible clip, along with offensive linemen Donovan Jackson and Josh Simmons and defensive lineman Tyleik Williams.
Then we move to the second round and running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson almost went back-to-back early on followed by former five-star defensive end JT Tuimoloau. Former five-star defensive end Jack Sawyer falling to the fourth round even feels like a steal.
The Buckeyes had the most players taken in this draft and continue to pump out elite talent. It should only further separate them in recruiting as well.
There was a lot of Ole Miss talk early and often in the NFL Draft and that will only help coach Lane Kiffin on the recruiting trail.
Defensive tackle Walter Nolen and quarterback Jaxson Dart were taken in the first round. Wide receiver Tre Harris and defensive back Trey Amos were second-round selections. All four were transfers so that should only help the Rebels in high school and transfer portal recruiting.
There is a little sting though: Only Georgia and Texas had more draft picks in the SEC and yet Ole Miss still didn’t make the College Football Playoff.
The only other Big Ten program with double-digit selections other than Ohio State was Oregon and coach Dan Lanning can use a lot of these wins on the recruiting trail. Knowing how the Ducks recruit so well, they will.
In the trenches, defensive lineman Derrick Harmon and offensive lineman Josh Conerly went in the first round. That cannot hurt while Cantwell is on campus this weekend. Tight end Terrance Ferguson was a second-round selection and former five-star Jordan Burch really blossomed in Eugene this season and was taken in the third.
Five-foot-11 quarterback Dillon Gabriel was taken before Shedeur Sanders, Quinn Ewers and other high-profile quarterbacks and even 5-foot-10, 160-pound productive receiver Tez Johnson was drafted and that won’t hurt Oregon with the smaller, slot receivers the Ducks like.
With an impressive 12 players drafted, Texas covered all bases from a recruiting perspective. Offensive lineman Kelvin Banks, defensive back Jahdae Barron and receiver Matthew Golden all went in the first round.
The Longhorns were well-represented across the board at running back, along the offensive and defensive line and among other positions. It was a surprise – and a disappointment for Texas – that former five-star quarterback Quinn Ewers didn’t go until the seventh round as the Shedeur Sanders shocker overshadowed the Ewers story.
LOSERS
Clemson sent six players to the NFL Combine; only three were drafted and none before the fourth round when productive linebacker Barrett Carter was taken. The Tigers had as many draft picks in the ACC (3) as Pitt and Boston College.
Former five-star Travis Hunter was the No. 2 overall pick and the Buffaloes also got receivers Lajohntay Wester and Jimmy Horn Jr. drafted. That will help with positional recruiting both in high school and the portal. But the whole Shedeur Sanders story dragged Colorado down a little.
Coming off its worst season since 1974, Florida State needs a spark but it didn’t come during the draft. Only two players – defensive back Azareye’h Thomas and defensive tackle Joshua Farmer – were drafted in the third and fourth rounds, respectively. More players were picked up as undrafted free agents.
This was not a huge draft class for Oklahoma but the Sooners didn’t get any picks until both Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman went in the fourth round. Oklahoma had as many draft picks (2) as Kentucky and Arkansas in the SEC. Only Vanderbilt had fewer.
